The Green Carpet Challenge is an effort by Vogue Editor France Sozzani and Livia Firth (married to Colin Firth) to inspire the fashion industry to reduce its carbon high-heeled footprint.

The challenge (for designers who accept it) is to use only environmentally ethical methods in producing red carpet gowns. These creators incorporate responsible and sustainable resources and re-purpose material from existing garments and recycled items.

Livia Firth wore an eco-friendly design to each award show this season and convinced at least one other star to participate for each red carpet event.  Colin re-used his tux from last year to at least one award show, the Oscars.

This year’s Challenge kicked off at the Golden Globes when Firth wore a gown made by fellow Italian Giorgio Armani.

For the 2012 award season, Firth enlisted some heavy hitters to design her eco-friendly red carpet gowns:  Tom Ford; Chanel; Giorgio Armani; Gucci; Yves Saint Laurent; and Stella McCartney.

At the BAFTA Awards she hooked stars Viola Davis and Michael Fassbender into her enviro-friendly net.

Firth also advocates wearing vintage garments and the unheard-of measure of wearing a gown more than once. She also chooses fair-trade gold, conflict-free diamonds, and vintage pieces for her jewelry.

At this years Academy Awards,  Firth wore a red Valentino sustainable gown which was made from recycled polyester from plastic bottles. Meryl Streep joined the Green Carpet Challenge donning a gold, full-length gown by Lanvin. It’s his first ever eco-friendly gown made from Eco Certified Fabric.

For more information about the Green Carpet Challenge you can follow its official blog on the Vogue UK website. Green Carpet Challenge.